NC State Newsstand: Former Wolfpack QB Roman Gabriel dies at 83
Former NC State quarterback Roman Gabriel died at 83-years-old on Saturday morning, his son announced on social media.
Gabriel, a two-time All-American on the gridiron, was the ACC Player of the Year in 1960 and 1961 during his time in the red and white. He set 22 school and nine ACC records in Raleigh, including becoming the first quarterback to throw for more than 1,000 yards in league history.
The Wilmington, N.C., native became the first NC State football player to have his jersey retired, which occurred following his senior season. He threw for 2,951 yards with 19 touchdown passes during his three-year career with the Wolfpack.
Following his senior campaign in 1961, Gabriel was the No. 1 pick in the 1962 AFL draft by the Oakland Raiders and the No. 2 pick in the NFL draft by the Los Angeles Rams. He signed with the Rams and went on to have a stellar NFL career.
He spent 11 seasons with the Rams before playing his next five with the Philadelphia Eagles to wrap up his playing career in 1977. Gabriel was named the NFL MVP in 1969, the year he was also named First Team All-Pro and led the league in passing touchdowns.
Gabriel was also the NFL Comeback Player of the Year in 1973 as well as a two-time Second Team All-Pro selection. He made the Pro Bowl four times in his career and led the league in passing yards during the 1973 campaign.
In all, Gabriel completed his NFL career with 29,444 passing yards and 201 touchdowns through the air. He added 1,304 rushing yards with 30 scores on the ground.
Gabriel was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1989.
Tweets of the day
NC State football honored Gabriel on social media Saturday afternoon
Former Wolfpack WR Kelvin Harmon scored a touchdown with the UFL’s DC Defenders on Saturday night.
NC State wrestling’s Isaac Trumble was the runner-up at the U.S. Olympic Trials on Saturday
Quote of the day
NC State baseball took the series from No. 11 North Carolina this weekend. Junior catcher Jacob Cozart slugged his first three homers of ACC play over the weekend and Pack coach Elliott Avent was happy to see that.
“He gives you everything he’s got back there,” Avent said of Cozart. “One of the top defensive catchers in the country, obviously, but he had a big weekend for us. He just keeps giving it everything he’s got.”
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